Heroism

(Monday September 22 Notes)

Heroism:
Characteristics of a Hero?
-bravery
-selfless
-moral code
-opportunity
-strength [physical and emotional]
-determination, purpose, goal
- challenge (obstacle)

Types of Heroes:
-Doctors (Life-Savers)
-Armed Forces
- Firefighters
-Obama (Challenge-overcome adversity)


(Wednesday September 24 Notes)
Example of The Mythic Hero #1

Superman
Kal-El comes from planet Krypton, protects people of metropolis as "Superman." Earth's yellow sun endows his powers. Lives under identity of Clark Kent, mild mannered reporter for Daily Planet.

Batman
Bruce Wayne, Gotham City's billionaire playboy, psychologically scarred from witnessing parents murder. Night-stalking vigilante, Batman - The Dark Knight.

The Lone Ranger
Only survivor of ambushed Texas Rangers becomes mysterious Lone Ranger, wears black mask to hide his identity.

Blade
Pregnant mother attacked by a vampire, gave birth to half man half vampire, accepted by neither man nor vampire.

Angel
Cursed by a vengeful gypsy, vampire with a soul, loses soul when he has a moment of happiness.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy Summers, vampire slayer also known as the "Chosen One"

Luke Skywalker
Orphan, Lives with Aunt and Uncle, together they are moisture farmers, once Aunt and Uncle are killed Luke goes off on his own, becomes a Hero.

Huckleberry Finn
Poor, abandoned by alcoholic father, homeless

The "Threshold Guardian"
- hero from outside has no ties providing the freedom to act
- hero within a community must break those ties or have them broken (sometimes in brutal fashion) before acting

The Mythic Hero #2
- hero not invincible but not a fool
- hero always has a weakness
- hero may only have average intellect (thus will make mistakes)
- usually possesses great common sense

Weakness
- Achilles' heel
- Pinocchio and lying
- Indiana Jones and snakes
- Superman and krypotonite
- Batman and scarred psyche
- Luke Skywalker and young/inexperience
- Angel and no sunlight, can lose soul from experiencing happiness

"Common Sense"
Odysseus - "quick witted" able to make good decision under pressure
But foolish for taunting Cyclops - Cyclops calls upon Poseidon to prevent Odysseus's return home.

The Mythic Hero #3
- path not always clear, but there is a goal
- hero seeking something that isn't near home
- hero may know where they want to go but not how to get there
Examples:
Moses - 40 years to find promise land
Theseus - Center of Labyrinth
- may know the route but not the journey involved
Examples:
Yellow Brick Road (Wizard of Oz)
Mississippi River to Cairo (Huck Finn)
Death Star (Star Wars)

The Mythic Hero #4
- journey/quest filled with danger/loneliness/temptation
- hero in 'alien country' facing things and situations never before encountered
- burden of quest usually to abandon quest in order to relieve suffering (Frodo and the Ring)

The Mythic Hero #5
- often accompanied by friends/servants/disciples
- comrades along quest offset loneliness
- heighten hero's isolation because they don't always share sense of mission
- all hero's companions will fall away before final battle

The Mythic Hero #6
- there is a guide(s)
- once hero passes an initiatory test then guide is revealed
- revered but unlikely person, who offers advice/tools
- things offered ambiguously, meaning not spelled out for hero
- hero won't be warned of all dangers in order to force use of common sense
- guide will have connection with opposing forces
- always possess great power but not enough to defeat enemy

The Mythic Hero #7
- there is a descent into darkness
- can be literal or figurative, but will always prey upon fears of hero
- this is hero's lowest point: time to face greatest conflict in journey, ALONE
- victory is symbolized by return to light, cleansed, renewed (a rebirth of sorts)

Examples:
Huck Finn deciding to rescue Jim.
Pinocchio in belly of whale.
Holden Caufield coming out of mummy crypt.
Gunfight in High Noon / any other western.

The Mythic Hero #8
- difference in hero after descent

Brianna Lee